Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Miami, Tennessee and Boston College have all offered scholarships.

Last week, Ole Miss joined the fray.

"It feels great, knowing the early offers mean you're one of their top players. It makes me feel very good about my game."

Cornileus, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder with a 3.0 grade-point average and a 20 on the ACT, has been a bit of a traveling man this spring. He's already checked out junior days at Florida and South Carolina, taken a look at Auburn and Georgia Tech and been to Miami's spring game.

"I'd say the one that stood out the most was Miami," Cornileus said. "I got the feel of the atmosphere and the hospitality. But they were all very nice and I was impressed with all the schools."

Cornileus plans to take advantage of spring break week this week. He'll be in Auburn on Tuesday to check out Gene Chizik's Tigers and then in Oxford Wednesday to see Ole Miss practice.

"My interest in any SEC school is very high," said Cornileus, who is working to be a December graduate, which would allow him to enroll at his college of choice in January. "There is a lot of competition at those schools."

As for Ole Miss, Cornileus said he likes the Rebels' new defensive line coach, Terry Price, who is recruiting Cornelius for Houston Nutt's program.

"Coach Price is a cool coach," Cornileus said. "I get along with him really well. I'm impressed with Ole Miss coming along and becoming a very good team. They beat Florida last year, which impressed me alone, but I know they're a growing team that's building up.

"They're saying I could play early, but it's up to me to make sure I'm ready."

Cornileus, who is also drawing some interest as a safety, had 118 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries (one returned for a score), three safeties and a blocked punt as a junior.

The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle from Stone Mountain (Stephenson), Ga., picked up an offer from Ole Miss last week, and while the Rebels will certainly have heady competition for his signature, Thomas is interested in finding out more about Houston Nutt's program.

"Me and my dad are coming to a practice there soon," Thornton said. "But I don't know how soon. I know of Ole Miss. They always have a good defense and a good defensive line."

Thornton has offers from Auburn, Miami, South Carolina, Louisiana Tech, North Carolina State and now Ole Miss.

"I was expecting to have a good list (of suitors) coming in to see me play, but I didn't know how soon (offers would come)," Thornton said. "I'm very proud. I want to make the right decision."

Specifically, Thornton is interested in the environment at his college of choice, so he plans to see as many different schools as he can.

"I want to be someplace where I'm wanted and where there is a good player-coach relationship," said Thornton, who has already taken trips to Auburn, Miami and South Carolina. "All of those places were about the same. It was just nice to be around those coaches and on those campuses."